Inhibition of Human Gastric Lipase Secretion by Glucagon-like Peptide-1

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) may be one ofthe enterogastrone hormones of the ileal brakemechanism. We therefore studied its effects on gastriclipase secretion in healthy volunteers and vagotomized patients during infusion of pentagastrin. Theintestinal incretin hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-likepeptide-1, 7-36 amide) was investigated because of itsinhibitory effects on gastric acid secretion andmotility. GLP-1 infused intravenously in amountscorresponding to the postprandial release significantlyinhibited pentagastrinstimulated gastric lipasesecretion and lipolytic activity. The inhibitory effectof GLP-1 persisted in vagotomized patients,suggesting that fundic chief cells, from which gastriclipase is released, or neighboring inhibitory cellscould be equipped with GLP-1 receptors. Vagotomizedpatients had significantly higher plasma concentrationsof gastrin and secretin. No significant changes ofgastrin, secretin, and CCK secretion were seen duringGLP-1 infusion in the vagotomized patients, whereas secretin decreased significantly in the healthyvolunteers. GLP-1 seems to be a naturally occurringinhibitor of gastric lipase secretion acting via anonvagal mechanism. Our results indicate that gastric lipase secretion is subject to hormonalstimulatory as well as inhibitory mechanisms.     

Cost differences between digital tomosynthesis and standard digital mammography in a breast cancer screening programme: results from the To-Be trial in Norway

Background

Several studies in Europe and the US have shown promising results favouring digital breast tomosynthesis compared to standard digital mammography (DM). However, the costs of implementing the technology in screening programmes are not yet known.

Methods

A randomised controlled trial comparing the results from digital breast tomosynthesis including synthetic mammograms (DBT) vs. DM was performed in Bergen during 2016 and 2017 as a part of BreastScreen Norway. The trial included 29,453 women and allowed for a detailed comparison of procedure use and screening, recall and treatment costs estimated at the individual level.

Results

The increased cost of equipment, examination and reading time with DBT vs. DM was €8.5 per screened woman (95% CI 8.4−8.6). Costs of DBT remained significantly higher after adding recall assessment costs, €6.2 (95% CI 4.6−7.9). Substantial reductions in either examination and reading times, price of DBT equipment or price of IT storage and connectivity did not change the conclusion. Adding treatment costs resulted in too wide confidence intervals to draw definitive conclusions (additional costs of tomosynthesis €9.8, 95% CI –56 to 74). Performing biopsy at recall, radiation therapy and chemotherapy was significantly more frequent among women screened with DBT.

Conclusion

The results showed lower incremental costs of DBT vs. DM, compared to what is found in previous cost analyses of DBT and DM. However, the incremental costs were still higher for DBT compared with DM after including recall costs. Further studies with long-term treatment data are needed to understand the complete costs of implementing DBT in screening.

     

Sense of coherence (SOC) related to health and mortality among the very old: The Umeå 85+ study

We describe associations between sense of coherence (SOC) and sense of well-being, diseases, physical function and the predictive value of SOC on depression and mortality. The study included 190 participants, aged 85-103 years. Linear correlation analysis was used for relationships between SOC scores and continuous variables. The effects of SOC score on 1- and 4-year mortality, as well as on depression at the 5-year follow-up, were investigated using Cox regression models. The mean SOC score was 71.8 ± 10.2 (±S.D.). SOC score was positively related to well-being (p ≤ 0.001). Heart failure (p = 0.009), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p = 0.015), depression (p = 0.015), and osteoarthritis (p = 0.032) were significantly associated with low SOC scores, as were high scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) (p = 0.002). One-year mortality was significantly associated with the SOC score (OR = 0.945, confidence interval (CI) = 0.898-0.995, p = 0.032), while the 4-year mortality was not (OR = 0.995, CI = 0.973-1.018, p = 0.674). The SOC score did not predict depression at 5-year follow-up (OR = 0.977, CI = 0.937-1.018, p = 0.267). Strong SOC was associated with well-being in this group of old people. Low SOC was found among those with diseases known to have a negative influence on daily life.     

Genomic survey of early responses to viruses in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L

Viral diseases are one of the main problems and risk factors in aquaculture. At present diseases are diagnosed by detection of pathogens and clinical symptoms. Identification of genes involved in early responses to viruses is important for better knowledge of antiviral defence and development of diagnostic tools. The aim of this study was to search for gene markers common for viral infections in Atlantic salmon based on microarray analyses of a wide range of samples. Gene expression profiles from fish and cell cultures infected with different viruses and treated with the synthetic double-stranded RNA poly(I:C) were compared in order to identify virus responsive genes (VRG). The list of VRG defined in this study contained 117 genes with known or unidentified functions. Several genes, including the most highly ranked one (receptor transporting protein), had not been previously reported to be involved in antiviral defence. VRG were characterized by a rapid induction and low tissue specificity, and their expression levels were related to the viral load. Immunofluorescence analyses of proteins encoded by VRG in cardiac tissue of salmon with the viral disease cardiomyopathy syndrome (CMS) revealed a common expression pattern. In head kidney leukocytes VRG showed comparable or equal responses to CpG and poly(I:C), which mimic respectively bacterial DNA and viral RNA. Most VRG showed highly correlated expression with interferon-a (IFNa). Sequence comparison of salmon VRG with those from other species gave an understanding of the evolution of these genes, which showed a remarkably rapid sequence divergence in comparison with the entire proteome. VRG emerged both before and after separation of teleosts and tetrapods, and among genes found exclusively in fish species there were members of several multigene families: tripartite motif proteins, gig1- and gig2-like proteins. Several VRG, including genes with unknown functions and orthologs to mammalian RNA helicase RIG-I and chemokine C-X-C type 10, were present in cyprinid and salmonid fish but not in the phylogenetically advanced orders, suggesting that they have been lost in the evolution of Teleostei. Apparently, a number of genes involved in antiviral responses in salmon have acquired different functional roles in higher vertebrates.     

Early infections of Toxoplasma gondii and the later development of schizophrenia

Early exposure to several infectious agents has been associated with the later development of schizophrenia. Two recent studies assessed in utero or early postnatal exposure to Toxoplasma gondii. In one study of 63 individuals, who developed schizophrenia spectrum disorders, maternal sera obtained during pregnancy showed an increased risk (OR 2.61) of having IgG antibodies to T. gondii. In the other study of 71 individuals who developed schizophrenia, sera obtained shortly after birth also showed an increased risk (OR 1.79) of having IgG antibodies to T. gondii. Causal linking mechanisms are at present speculative but include possible direct effects of maternal IgG on the developing central nervous system (CNS) of the offspring. Additional studies are underway.